Letter: Circuses are cruel to animals

Wednesday

Jul 23, 2014 at 3:47 PM

This letter is in response to Marc Munroe Dion's July 19 “Side Streets” column, “Circus was once a staple of Fall River entertainment.” Thanks for your thought-provoking piece about how traditional circuses have fallen out of favor as people learn more about how poorly the animals are treated.

This letter is in response to Marc Munroe Dion’s July 19 “Side Streets” column, “Circus was once a staple of Fall River entertainment.” Thanks for your thought-provoking piece about how traditional circuses have fallen out of favor as people learn more about how poorly the animals are treated.

P.T. Barnum himself couldn’t convince today’s public that hauling chained and caged animals around in stifling, reeking boxcars from city to city is still acceptable.

The days of boxing up animals and carting them from city to city, beating them until they perform silly tricks, and tearing apart animal families and friends in the name of “entertainment” are coming to an end.

The Historical Society’s presentation can serve as a reminder to future generations of the dark side of the Ringling Bros. Circus and other animal circuses’ history.